Skip to content

GET INVOLVED:

GET INVOLVED: SIGN UP FOR E-NEWSDONATE NOWBECOME A MEMBER
  • What You Can Do
  • What We Do
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Members
  • Volunteer
  • Donate Now
  • What You Can Do
  • What We Do
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Members
  • Volunteer
  • Donate Now

you don’t need a house to vote

Voter Registration: Make sure ALL eligible people register to vote by Mon. 10/5 for the 11/3 General Election: You Don’t Need a House to Vote

September 23, 2015 by Hillary Coleman

This is a big election, folks! Half of the King County Council and all nine of the Seattle City Council are up for (re)election. Voting is important and helps ensure that people’s voices are being heard. Encourage our whole community to take part! Help ensure that every eligible voter is registered and votes in this November 3 General Election.  

Read important details about registering people to vote below, plus, volunteer with the Coalition on Homelessness’ Voter Registration Drive: Thursday September 24 – Monday October 5! Contact Hillary for more information & to sign up!


Voter Registration Deadline for Nov. 3 General Election: Monday, October 5

General Election date: Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Registration information and tips – Here’s a few helpful tips and important information.  Please use our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters for more specifics about helping those who don’t have a house register.

  • Print this half sheet condensed version of our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters.  We recommend sharing it with people you work with and are helping register to vote.
  • Registration Deadline: Monday, October 5 for mail or online new registrations & updates
    • In-person registration for *people not currently registered in Washington State* is available until Monday, October 26, 2015 at King County Elections Offices:
      • Renton HQ: 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057-2906
      • Seattle Office: King County Administration Building: 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Do I need an address to vote? 
    • Residential address: MUST be filled out: You need to list a residential address to be placed in your district. You can register at the shelter, park, vehicle location, intersection, or another identifiable location that you consider your current residence if you do not have a traditional residential address. Provide as complete of an address as possible (ex: 4th Ave & Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104).
    • Mailing address: You need a mailing address in order to receive your ballot and election information on time.  You can use a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, or General Delivery at a local post office.  See our guide for places to receive mail in the county, such as Compass Housing Alliance (77 S. Washington St, Seattle, 98104).  If you work at a place where clients can receive mail, they can use that address as a mailing address.
  • Felony conviction?  Individuals convicted of felonies automatically regain their right to vote once they have completed their time in prison and no longer are under Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision. Visit the ACLU’s website for more information.
  • What if I (or someone I am helping) am not sure if I am still registered? 
    • If you did not get a ballot in the mail in August for the Primary Election, your registration may have lapsed.  Because all voting is by mail, the state doesn’t want to pay postage if they aren’t sure if someone is still at the same address, so if a ballot is not returned for 2 years, they deactivate your registration.  If a person has access to the internet they can check their voting status here.
    • How to fix this? 
      • Fill out a new registration form, or complete a registration online.  It never hurts to send in a form even if someone isn’t sure if they need to or not, but it wouldn’t be fun to not receive a ballot during the election…better to be safe than sorry!

Voting in the November 3, 2015 Election:

  • Ballots are mailed to voters 20 days prior to the election. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, October 19 call King County Elections: 206-296-8683
  • Ballot drop boxes & Accessible voting
    • Locations and information will be available the first week of October on the King County Elections Website: Ballot Drop Box & Van Locations 
      • Accessible Voting Locations & Information

Homeless Voter Registration Drive:

  • Thursday, September 24 – Monday, October 5
  • What: With your help, we will go to highly accessed sites around the county to register homeless and unstably housed individuals to vote.  Shifts will be 2-3 hours, where you have the opportunity to make sure everyone knows that you don’t need a house to vote, and has information about voting rights being restored for people with Washington State felony convictions.
  • Sign up to volunteer: contact Hillary.
  • Want to host a voter registration drive at your organization?  Let Hillary know and she can make sure you have the materials you need. We want to hear how it goes and how many people you register!  Use this form to share your stories with the Coalition.

Remember, voting is a form of making one’s voice heard: people experiencing homelessness in our region need to be heard.  Let’s work together to make sure all eligible community members are registered to vote.

Categories Advocacy, Civil & human rights, King County, State and local homelessness & housing issues, Take Action!, Workshops & TrainingsTags advocacy, Civic engagement, Homelessness, register to vote, SKCCH, vote, Voting Rights Restoration, you don't need a house to vote

You Don’t Need a House to Vote: Spread the word to help people register by July 6 for the 8/4 primary election.

June 18, 2015 by Hillary Coleman

We may not be voting on the president, but this is still an important election! Here’s why: Half of the King County Council and all nine of the Seattle City Council are up for reelection, it’s a big year! Voting is important and helps ensure that people’s voices are being heard. Encourage our whole community to take part! Help ensure that every eligible voter is registered and votes in this August’s primary election. 


Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election: Monday, July 6

Primary Election date: Tuesday, August 4

Voter Registration Deadline for General Election: Monday, October 5

November General Election Date: Tuesday, November 3

Registration information and tips – Here’s a few helpful tips and important information.  Please use our Guide for Homeless and Unstably Housed Voters for more specifics about helping those who don’t have a house register.

  • Registration Deadline: Monday, July 6 for mail or online new registrations & updates
    • In-person registration for *people not currently registered in Washington State* is available until Monday, July 27, 2015 at King County Elections Offices:
      • Renton HQ: 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057-2906
      • Seattle Office: King County Administration Building: 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Do I need an address to vote? 
    • Residential address: MUST fill this out so voter can be assigned to a precinct.  The residential address does not need to be a house/apartment.  Voters should put the street, intersection, or shelter where they stay most often. (i.e. 4th Ave & Cherry St.)
    • Mailing address: voters MUST provide a mailing address because ballot will be mailed to voter.  See our guide for places to receive mail in the county, such as Compass Housing Alliance (77 S. Washington St, Seattle, 98104).  If you work at a place where clients can receive mail, they can use that address as a mailing address.
  • Felony conviction?  Individuals convicted of felonies automatically regain their right to vote once they have completed their time in prison and no longer are under Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision. Visit the ACLU’s website for more information.
  • What if I (or someone I am helping) am not sure if I am still registered? 
    • If you did not get a ballot in the mail in April for the special election, your registration may have lapsed.  Because all voting is by mail, the state doesn’t want to pay postage if they aren’t sure if someone is still at the same address, so if a ballot is not returned for 2 years, they deactivate your registration.  If a person has access to the internet they can check their voting status here.
    • How to fix this? 
      • Fill out a new registration form, or complete a registration online.  It never hurts to send in a form even if someone isn’t sure if they need to or not, but it wouldn’t be fun to not receive a ballot during the election.

Voting in the August 4 Election:

  • Ballots are mailed to voters 20 days prior to the election. If you have not received your ballot by Monday, July 15 call King County Elections: 206-296-8683
  • Ballot drop boxes & Accessible voting
    • Locations and information will be available the first week of July on the King County Elections Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/voting/ballot-return.aspx

The Coalition on Homelessness will offer a formal voter registration training in the fall before the registration deadline for the November General Election.  If you are interested in more information please contact Hillary. Remember, voting is a form of making one’s voice heard: people experiencing homelessness in our region need to be heard.  Let’s work together to make sure all eligible community members are registered to vote.

Categories Advocacy, Civil & human rights, Take Action!Tags Civic engagement, election, king county council, Public policy, register to vote, Seattle City Council, vote, you don't need a house to vote

Recent Posts

  • February 18, 2021 Membership Meeting
  • January 21, 2021 Membership Meeting
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Info for Homeless Service Providers (Last Updated 01/21/2021)
  • An open letter in response to exploitative #BadNews from KOMO/Sinclair
  • December 17, 2020 State Legislative Preview Meeting

Archives

Tag Cloud

2020 GM (11) 2020 Training (2) advocacy (56) Budget Advocacy (3) Case Manager Training (4) Census (2) City of Seattle (19) Civic engagement (45) Coalition on Homelessness (3) community voices (2) Coordinated Entry for All (2) covid (10) educational rights (2) Families with Children (15) Funding (15) General Election (2) General Member Meeting (2) General Membership Meeting (18) Helping Homeless Students (6) Homelessness (41) homeless students (16) human services (4) King County (40) king county council (4) Legislative Updates (3) McKinney-Vento (10) Naloxone (2) Pandemic EBT (2) Project Cool for Back-to-School (4) Public policy (49) register to vote (2) Seattle (23) Seattle City Budget (3) Seattle City Council (19) SKCCH (11) vote (2) Voter Registration (2) Voting (13) Washington State (2) Washington State Legislators (14) you don't need a house to vote (2) youth and young adults (20) youth and young adults committee (11) youth summit (6) YYAC (6)

footer low nav & copyright

About Us | Contact Us
©2019 Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
.